Occurrence, behavior and the associated health risk of organochlorine pesticides in sediments and fish from Bahía Blanca Estuary, Argentina

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 185; p. 114247
• Main Authors: Oliva, Ana L., Girones, Lautaro, Recabarren-Villalón, Tatiana V., Ronda, Ana C., Marcovecchio, Jorge E., Arias, Andrés H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2022
• Subjects: Ecotoxicological risk; Fish species; Health risk assessment; OCPs; Sediments; OCPs; Sediments; Ecotoxicological risk; Health risk assessment; Fish species
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114247

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were assessed for their occurrence, behavior and the associated human health and ecological risks in four fish species (Micropogonias furnieri, Cynoscion guatucupa, Mustelus schmitti, and Ramnogaster arcuata) and sediments from the Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina, an important coastal environment of South America. Total OCPs values ranged from 0.86 to 6.23 ng/g dry weight in sediments and from <LOD (method detection limits) to 0.74 ng/g wet weight in fish. While lindane and α-endosulfan were the dominant congeners in sediments, β-endosulfan and p,p'-DDE were dominant in fish. OCP levels and residues patterns varied within the fish species and life stage. Finally, after cancer and non-cancer risk analysis, results concluded that the consumption of fish from the estuary would pose no health threats associated with these pollutants. •First assessment of OCPs in four fish species from a South Atlantic Estuary•β-endosulfan and p,p'-DDE are the major OCPs found in fishes•γ- HCB and α-endosulfan are dominant congeners in sediments•No human health risk is associated with the consumption of fish from the estuary.